The List: A to Z Survival for the Abysmal Times Ahead

In a follow-up to his wildly popular article discussing How Horrific It Will Be For The Non-Prepper, contributor ‘Be Informed’ provides SHTFplan readers with an extensive list of preparedness and survival keywords and concepts for beginners and seasoned preppers alike.

It seems like no matter how well someone prepares, they inevitably find out they have forgotten something. That all important item or items that aren’t “remembered”, that merely only have to be mentioned by name to remind a person of what they needed. Most of the time when someone forgets an article of clothing or other minor object after beginning a vacation they can easily replace it or live without it. After a calamitous event, however, anything that a person has forgotten to store will likely be be impossible to obtain. What someone has in their possession at the time of the event is probably the ONLY thing they will be able to get.

The following list of A to Z survival items and survival related concepts details what one may have simply forgotten because there’s so much to prepare for. Kind of like; “oh yeah, I am glad that something reminded me of what I need”, or “that’s something I never thought of and I will need it”. Most everyone will, of course, not be able to amass everything on this list, and there will of course be items and ideas not mentioned here, but it should be a good place to start for beginners and seasoned preppers alike. A person can always add more to any list of their own essential needs, as lists such as this are almost endless. It should also be realized that no list of survival items and ideas are perfect for any individual, and just because someone has just a portion of what is on it doesn’t mean that they are not prepared.

The goal here is to have a general inventory of “key words” that have to do with prepping and survival that have very brief descriptions and short reasons behind why they are so important regarding survival preparedness. The aim is to keep each survival and prepping word or set of words as compact as possible – that is, to not bog down anyone with lengthy explanations that could easily fill an encyclopedia size book. When the prepper/survivalist sees a word in relation to preparing it can and does trigger an automated response that brings thoughts of whether they need or do not need to do something about it in their own planning.

This A to Z list of survival should help in that process.

A

– Ability and adept – the more skills you have the better.

– Able bodied – being physically fit helps anyone.

– Accumulate – tiny amounts eventually add up to a lot.

– Action – you should not put off what you need to do.

– Adaptability – to survive people will need to adapt.

– Advice – there is much good sound advice out there, seek it out.

– Aftermath – this is what is the longest and most difficult to survive.

Copyright Information: This content has been contributed to SHTFplan by a third-party or has been republished with permission from the author. Please contact the author directly for republishing information.

The problem is nutritional deficiency and metabolic syndrome, very often caused by poverty, but also by ignorance: the worst, most obesity-causing foods are the cheapest, full of HFCS, sugar, cheap rancid soy and corn oils, and full of chemicals and fillers to make them taste good. Almost ALL processed and packaged foods fall into this category. Most people who are obese are either uneducated about nutrition, or simply cannot afford to buy good meats, good fats, and un-chemically-sprayed, non-GMO vegetables.

Gary Taubes has an excellent book (Good Calories, Bad Calories) which meticulously documents the science. He additionally documents what has happened even in African countries where the people are starving and living on handouts of wheat and rice: it is startlingly common to see starving children with obese mothers. This has absolutely nothing to do with those women eating too much. Both the women and the children are nutritionally deficient.

Anyone serious about their own nutritional survival and keeping their wits about them in an emergency would do well to learn exactly how their own biochemical processes really work. I for one, would never think of wasting a single cent on food that will not truly sustain me or my family. This is why, after some storage of dry goods such as rice/beans/etc, I focus most of my efforts on raising, butchering, sometimes buying, and then canning meat from chickens, rabbits, deer, pigs, and beef. I also consider the raw milk (I make cheese too) and the eggs from my chickens to be some of the highest quality sustainable food I can muster.

I actually read that book in 2008, a really good book on what our “idea” of good food is totally wrong, promoted by the mass media. What I was trying to convey was that when humans do not have “bad” food to eat, ie. fast food, junk food, tainted food, and they have to get to the basics, their weight will drop. The United States has one of the highest rate of obesity, which is a shame, but look at the facts.
Genetics play a cruel hand for some, I have seen many who try and try to lose weight and cannot achieve that goal. Your point is well taken, and I hope that the rest of the world will get in shape and eat smartly.
Most of the diseases (arthritis, heart problems, etc.)
could be solved with what they intake. Native Americans would fast for two or more days to let the toxins get out without putting more back in, correcting the problem in their own bodies. Read “Back to Eden” by Jethro Kloss, and see that what Taubes is saying is not new, only rehashed.
P.S. I never said “too much food”.

Toilet paper is a waste! It is better to use rags and wash cloths instead. Why waste all that storage space for something you will end up throwing out? The wash cloths can be cleaned and used over and over again. What happens if you have to “bug out?” Carry rolls and rolls of TP? I would rather use the space that the T.P. would take up and use that space for storage of food stuffs or something just as critical. Also forgot to add tobacco to the list, a great barter item. After all, it was one of the first “monies” used in North America!

I tend to agree, but since I am outnumbered by the women not stocking it risks death by gunshot wound. Besides, I want to ease them into the transition to living in a third-world country. I only carry one roll in my BOB and the normal amount at home, but if I do need to bug out to my BOL, there will be plenty waiting there in what will become the hen house.

I do not smoke so will not be storing tobacco, but you did inspire the idea to store some tobacco seeds.

I think if you have just some of the items listed, and are aware of the concepts Be Informed brings up, that you will be more prepared than 99% of the population. The list is a great place to start and great for creating prioritization sub lists.

None of us can ever be ready for everything, but we can certainly increase our odds of surviving and thriving.

Fantastic list, thanks. But remember OPSEC; When you buy, use cash, don’t have anything sent to your house if you can avoid i (nosey neighbors and mailmen); get a mail drop like UPS because their addresses are like those of a business. Oh, and put a business name on it if you can. Shop at different locations; don’t let anyone see you buy too many cases of anything. Use different mail order companies as well for this and other reasons. And TELL NO ONE of your preps; if others don’t get it by now, they never will, and this includes family. Hold extra for them but say nothing, time is running out and the last thing any of us needs is for some government busybodies poking around. And never have all of your goods in the same place-too easy to get it all taken away. Good luck!

We’re prepping for my son, his future wife, and their baby that’s on the way. We can’t prep for anyone else. Sure, I could give one of my relatives a box of dry cereal and a gallon of water but that won’t change anything. After it hits the fan I’m not even opening the door to see who it is. I’ve already told friends, relatives, and church people to prepare for the coming collapse. After it happens it’s gonna be too late.

Little birdie says, the usurper in charge of the WH, says QEIII begins this Sunday. Status Quo must be maintained at all cost till elections are over. America and it’s people are to be left hung out to dry.

I say we our well pass all the BS QE’s, they have been adding zeros after zeros to all the banks under the elites control.

Like Mac says, a little is better than nothing. Most do not have the means to have a secluded place to bug out to, so make sure to prioritize your items for if and when you have to leave in a hurry. You cannot take it all with you, plus you may not be able to return to get what is left behind.

Just remember, there is bound to be things laying around throughout your jurney if and when it comes to that. Keep a positive mind for the best, but be prepped for the worst!

Thanks for the list. The more localization and preparedness we have in ourselves, our families and communities, the easier the transition to a new paradigm will be. There will be bumps, massive bumps, but increased resiliency equals increased opportunities for success. Prepare, prepare, prepare.

Just yesterday I ordered aomething I had overlooked…correction, one of several items I have overlooked.
Activated charcoal for my first aid kits, both pills and powder. It could save the life of a poisoning victim, makes a great poultice as well.
This site has been a godsend, constantly reminding me to check and recheck, given my resources and abilities.

Activated carbon is one item that is often overlooked… We happened to pick some up a couple months back at Pet Smart for the purpose of building an off-grid water filter experiment with the kids. It’s cheap, and like you said, can save lives in an emergency.

And today, at the 400 mile yard sale through Ky, I found $1 reading glasses to add to the few I have; and another cast iron skillet like new(insert smiley face here).
I was constantly searching for prepping needs today.
Go figure!!

One more thing. Deep cover, from the absolute bloodbath/shitstorm that is going to happen, starting Monday when the market opens. I can’t see how it will be avoided. This is going to be effing messy. If the FED pulls a QE3, PMs are going to be a moon shot, hope you got some.

It’s coming eventually. The dollar will be worth 0 therefore gold and silver will be incredibly expensive in terms of dollars. Not because gold and silver are more valuable but because the dollar will become worthless. Laugh all you want. I have my savings in PMs. You should too.

barncat, theres just one small problem with your theory, when the dollar is worth zero (which it will) gold and silver will have no value in dollars. the value will be debateable however you couldnt pay any amount of dollars to get any gold or silver.

Eeder – You said gold and silver will have no value in dollars. That’s perfectly fine with me because I don’t want no stinkin dollars. I want to buy the stuff that people with dollars are unable to get: water, food, gasoline, gardening supplies, etc. In a hyperinflationary scenario, precious metals become the defacto currency.

Regardless of the dollar value per gold unit when push comes to shove you will get that side of beef and some fuel if available with that gold.

My friends wife is from Belarus and is in her late 40s. When the USSR fell apart so did their economy. They had for practical purposes useless money. Gold and to a lesser degree silver (which was uncommon there according to her) became the currency of choice. She said people would buy a piano that never knew how to play it because it held value better than the money.

Hammerun: I’ve heard late June in QE disscussions. Have you heard otherwise? Most are agreed that another round is coming though. Not only will metals shoot up but all commodities will reflect a lower dollar. Oil, beef, pork(had to include that one for the feds) everything tangible will see an increase.

I have heard the same thing, in late June. But Helo Ben and Turbo Tim could pull this off at any time, anything as not to make His Highness’ look like a “smuck”. But that being said, I have been Yacking for the 12 to 14 months something significant is going to happen here in the US before July 2012. Engineered and steered by the sitting Administration, IE; Obama and clan. Dip shit and chief aint sitting so good and he knows it, something has to happen to get him to look like a prophet again or he is going to lose this election.
ENTER; Rahm Emanuel, “Never let a Crises go to waste” and here it is for your pleasure. They are going to run this till the dog pukes, they have nothing else to go on. It’s been stated and verified that approximately 50% of this country’s population is on some kind of Government dole. Obama and ILK are thinking, as far as they are concerned, these are bought and paid for votes and in some cases, they’re probably be right but I’m hoping this is going to backfire on them. My thought is that there is more of a personal pride mentality left in this country from hard work and making a living for one’s self rather than laying around watching Desperate Housewives and eating BonBons waiting for a check.
Without a doubt QE3,4,5 will do nothing but inflate the dollar cause hyperinflation and kill any savings you have. That’s how they intend on getting away from “The China Debt” to inflate their way out of it. Gold and Silver have been the baseline for monetary systems for millennia and will continue to be so here no matter what Op-pundits say. This just doesn’t fit into their overall plan. I’ll leave what they have in mind up to you and your own beliefs, we all have to pay for our own dictions. I just refuse to be lead around by the nose by somebody like Obama. He aint got nothing in my game, “fuck him!!”

I am really trying to track this right now. I know I am threading the needle here but I have been waiting to buy another 300 gallons of diesel for the pump price to reflect the drop in crude. Late next week I will have no choice but to order it. Also trying to decide if I should buy dyed or road diesel. Will use it either way but would be nice to run trucks on it without getting a tank dipped and a huge fine.
The second they make an announcement about QE prices will increase.
Also on a side note. A friend at the sporting store told me that his ammo suppliers already warned him of price increases in late summer.

I am grateful for this list, especially because it appears to be thorough and precise, yet also generalized. I plan to study this list in detail and also print out a copy to retain. This is a list to “think on”. Thanks!

Eeder: I tried to search for Greenspan speeches. Nothing found. Do you have any other info on when or where I can find more info on it? Also what is going on with MSM? I don’t watch those channels anymore with the exception of Euopean financial on bloomberg late night. Can you elaborate?

saddle up, they are reporting real news, financial news, they are not pushing stocks on the people, they are becoming critical of government, its fairly obvious if you tune in once in a while to get a feel for what they are pushing. and i just see a change. also stupid shows are starting to mention the constitution, its somewhat subtle and geared tosheeple, but its there. i will try and google it but if you check financial news, like cnbc, its on there. i think its sometihng of a speech with ben bernanake. it has the potential to be quite serious, based on some things greenspan has been saying the past few years. basically admitting how screwed up things are. frankly i dont mind alan greenspan and he had a self imposed gold standard at first as fed chief. in 1995, he caved to congress and went the opposite from what he had done in the past.alan greenspan started this depression in 1995 and he can end it now by coming out and exposing the weaknesses. it shall be very interesting to see what happens. again i will google it to see what comes up for me as each person on the internet gets a different search result tailored to them by the tptb and google for the same query.

saddle up, i will try and find out more about this greenspan thing. its something to do with the fed and bernanke. i cant locate it now. though he was on tv on friday however this is not what im referring to.

Diatomaceous Earth is another good item to stock – so many uses from food storage, insect control in garden, gets rid of bed bugs to safe worming of people and many animals – such as dogs and more.

Be sure to get FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth. This is sold at many feed stores.

I received this in an email. Please note – I do not have horses, so I have never tried this.

Off Grid Worm Recipe for Horses

We’ve been worming “off the grid” for a while now. The mixture we have used was 40% pumpkin/sunflower seeds, 30% tobacco leaves (loose pipe tobacco from the store works) and the rest parsley flakes and garlic. It filled up a gallon ice cream bucket and we wormed over 20 horses with it.

Through my own research I’ve learned that intestinal worms release from the stomach and intestinal lining during the full moon to breed. If you use a mixture such as we use or others, the rough texture of the mixture scrapes the worms away and right out of the horses. It is much cheaper than conventional worming, which can run up to $8/tube every 60 days.

And the horse manure isn’t contaminated by the chemicals in the tube wormer. We use the horse manure as fertilizer, as a lot of people do. But what most people don’t know or don’t think about is that horse manure tainted with worming medication is also tainted and will kill the good worms in the soil once the manure is on the ground.

+1 on diatomaceous earth – has lots of use in a SHTF scenario – regarding using on livestock as a wormer, did but stopped using it as an internal wormer on my dwarf goats – reason – DE kills insects by drying them up –

Great for outside use – use sparingly as can kill beneficial insects too – when used internally, the worms are in a moist and warm environment and DE can’t do it’s thing – come in contact with the insect, lacerate the bugs exoskeleton, absorb the body fluids and cause it to die from dehydration.

I found an excellent alternative at Molly’s Herbals – uses wormwood and garlic and other natural ingredients – can be used by animals and humans. She does an excellent job on her site explaining the why and how. Hope you will check it out. Stores great!

Diat. Earth is fantastic — we keep it in the large 50 pound bags for livestock. It will work topically, too, to rid an animal of mites or other obnoxious bugs.

I use D.E. in the garden, too, as an organic pest control. It’s used to “dust” the plant leaves.

I have heard testimony of people ingesting small daily doses of D.E. to reduce their cholesterol. I would caution someone to do serious research beforehand but if there are no prescription meds and the D.E. is available, and it has been proven to lower cholesterol, why not?

One precaution, though: D.E. should not be inhaled (even accidentally while applying it as a dusting powder) as it can be very abrasive internally (the lungs).

Viking: Agreed, I have started buying dry dog food for my dogs to blend in with other animal scraps thanks to the dilligent reminding from 95 LB K-9. At $30.00 a bag it adds up. All the loyalty they have given me, the very least I can do is spend a couple hundred dollars on their food. Horses: extra shoes, nippers, rasps, hobbles. People would be amazed at how fast a horse gets ouchy on rocky or dry sand ground. Some people think hobbling a horse is cruel, but consider this, if you were the horse would you rather be tied up or hobbled and grazing. Hay is going to get expensive again out west this year, would love to be a seller at $300/ton but this year is all being stacked.

The Minute I finished “One Second After” I went out and bought 200 lbs of Dog Food. And then vacuum sealed 150 pounds of it. I’m not going to ruin the book for those of you who haven’t read it. Eye opening scenario about what happens to your poor pooch if you don’t have food for them also. As my heart belongs to Einstein the Welsh Cardiagan corgi,Pet food is on my list every week.

We don’t call America the home of the brave for nothing!
It takes guts to want to survive what we’re prepping for!

A little known fact about eggs, wild or store bought-
the membrane inside the shell makes a great band aide for blisters-peel it off and apply it like a plaster-I’ve tired it and think it even heals the blister faster.

Also sugar for wounds, skin ulcers and burns. Antibacterial, inhibits growth of microorganisms,soaks up moisture, reduces swelling and helps with scarring. Use after there has been no bleeding for 24 hours.

Third world people don’t have access to the over the counter products we do – in a SHTF situation, neither may we. While the internet is up, been gathering and experimenting with these alternatives.

Sugar has been a long time third world remedy and recently the “civilized” world has “discovered” the benefits and jumped on the band wagon with all types of studies and trials by universities and hospitals.

I find Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition here on Mac’s site is a great resource and has some excellent articles on health and medical including links to e-books/manuals.

One of my favorites is the Where There Is No Doctor – a village health care handbook – My next to download will be the one on mid wifery by the same doctor. Great SHTF how to reference guides, well written and free (I’m out of ink again.)

You need a year’s supply of food and water. You need a way to heat your home and cook your food without electricity. I prefer kerosene heaters and stoves. You need guns and ammo to protect yourself. You need toilets. I plan on using five gallon buckets with snap-on toilet seats, garbage bags to line them, and kitty litter to cover the smell. If there’s a foreclosed home in the area we going to use it to store our poop bags and garbage. We’re in the process of getting plastic 55 gallon barrels to hold extra water to flush toilets. (We already have 1500 gallons of drinking water.) I don’t like the idea of storing propane. One cylinder could leak and your house would go off like a bomb.

I live in town. I don’t want to do anything that makes my house look occupied. After it hits the fan it’s not going to be safe to go outside for months. I plan on dumping my garbage and poop in the middle of the night. I have night vision goggles for that purpose.

they break down into 4 walls a roof and the basin..easy to store..heck even out side under a tarp..they are cheap.
and you can use what ever method of waste management you choose in it.
the women will be eternally greatful they dont have to squat over a 5 gallon pail out in the open or behind jome jacked up curtain

VRF: Had to laugh when I read that because my first thought was you could use it as barter tool to someone that has been crapping in a bucket and carrying it around.
I am telling anyone that plans on crapping in a bucket, I have done that for weeks at a time. It isn’t a pleasant experience I want to repeat. Sure as I am sitting here one of those plastic bags tears open and then the fun begins. Short term it’s a fine idea but have something long term planned as well.

just Me: As The Wife of a Master Plumber I reccommend: a tablespoon of yeast down the toilet monthly feeds the good bacteria. Good bacteria counts can signifigantly cut down on the need for a septic pumping. Also, No bleach in the septic. ever. grey water (washing machines) should be pumped to the yard (trees like it).

i know a lot of people that don’t have or need their septic tanks pumped, if u do a good job of only flushing the waste and minimal paper and use some liquid bacteria like rid-ex you can go indefinitely. I’ve not had to pump mine in the 8 years i’ve lived here and don’t seem to be having any build up

If there is a vacant home in my area, it’s going to be used to shelter a good family who needs it, they will be added security, skills and knowledge, and workers to the community. Not about to waste a good dwelling to store our waste when a hole in the ground will do nicely.

What good will shelter do when everybody is starving? There will be massive numbers of murder/suicides. Most homes will be unoccupied or filled with dead people within 90 days of the collapse. Every city in America will be a ghost town within 6 months to a year.

Here, I wrote this program for going through the list and making your own prioritized list from the original non-prioritized list. It restarts where you left off and saves changes upon exit. The higher priority items for you migrate to the top of the list.

It’s a good idea to intentionally obtain items which are multi-use. It cuts down on both weight and space. My plan is buggin’ in because we already live out in the hills but if we *need* to GTFO, my plan is to travel light and fast the old way.

@ VRF. Sorry you didn’t like that list, but I truly tried to consolidate some of the items so the list was not too overwhelming for the reader as under reload would be the gun powder, primers, brass, copper, lead, etc. I think I had 440 items when I finished this and that is a lot. I literally went through the Webster Dictionary, all 858 pages of it and wrote down each word I thought could be useful in alphabetic order. Afterwards I found even more and had to squeeze them into between the other key words. It was easier to sit quietly and hand write them out.

I also found that if I left out things out that the people out there would kind of find it fun to add their own ideas and become creative. This way everyone could have a hand in making an even better list. I am just one person with many ideas, but all the rest of the good minds out there can add much to this and build the rest of what we all need from this foundation.

VRF, do you have any other ideas that can be added to this? Does anyone else have some more items to add?

In the event something catastrophic occurs which will reduce us to pre-industrial times, IMO we need to look at how folks on the frontier got by.

Now mind you, I’m not saying sell your AR-15 and buy a black powder Hawken and trade in your camo BDU’s for buckskins. No. We have some great technology in our age… but don’t forget The Old Ways.

“Frontier Tactical” is mixing the best of the old with the best of the new.

I am adept at making fire with flint & steel and I can use the friction method but it doesn’t mean I don’t carry a couple of Bic lighters. I’ve been flintknapping since 1984 and I can make my own arrows and spears but I won’t be leaving the AR-15 at home. I know how to use knives and tomahawks as both tools and weapons but I’ll be taking along my modern multi-tool.

That’s the concept.

Remember the most useful resource is your own mind and your own abilities.

Be informed, Thanks for all of the info. This is the kind of article I like most. It is impossible to think of everything, this helps greatly.

I am big on canning my own food. Dont forget the jars, lids and rings. Jars are rings are re-usable so plenty of lids. I have 2000. My biggest long term preps are seeds, fertilizer, and odd things to barter. Duct tape, oil lamps, chicken wire, any piece of wood I can store.
Tools of all kinds, especially a hack saw. Extra locks, hasps and hinges for when things get broken and they will. My neighbor and I are building a couple of deer stands for the neighborhood watch program. “See something, shoot something!

I think fingernail files & fingernail clippers are essential. Keeping your nails trimmed will help with germs/hygiene. One less way to get sick. Biting your own nails to keep them short, will only be a sure way to get seriously ill.

Everyone. Thank you for looking at this list and the nice comments. It really took awhile to write down everything, and I know I missed much. Everyone out there is worth it though, and it is extremely personally rewarding to think that with what I know and can come up with just might make a difference in people’s lives after SHTF and then some. This list is a good foundation to start with and hopefully will remind everyone of the certain item or items that they forgot to store. Something is on the horizon and we are getting closer each day to it.

Please everyone, if you have an item or idea that can add to this please send it in. Every last bit of survival info we can all get the more all of us have a better chance of making it through what is coming. I am so amazed at the shear brilliant minds out there and all the unusual never thought of ideas that pop up. That is what makes this site so extremely valuable to everyone.

Thank you Mac for putting this on, I hope it truly helps everyone to add those items to their survival stockpiles that they have forgotten about before it is too late.

Believe it or not at one time FEMA actually tried to be helpful, this is circa WWII and the guy that gave this to me showed me pics of generators he has built using this with a lawnmower engine to power a genie at his house. Hope it helps

Another useful tidbit that I have recently ran across is how to make biomass briquettes that can be used for heating, cooking, or to power something like the gasifier that is decribed in the pdf linked to my last post. I plan on building one of these in the next few weeks when I get the spare time.

One important thing to keep in mind is that 97% of the population will not be prepared. That means that anyone who is just a little bit prepared will be far ahead of many others. So, when you start feeling dejected that you haven’t done enough, just think of the masses who have done nothing. Of course, you will have to deal with some of those zombies, but first thing first.

-I call those that are unprepared Zombies because zombies have no high level brain function, all they know how to do is to eat… others.-

So true RedGreen The Zombies are already being let out of their cages, or should I call them cannibals. The man in Miami that was attacked and had part of his face eaten off is just one of several instances in local media.

We have no news on TV media. It is all lies, and I mean 99% of it. All We The People have is each other & few will help when the SHTF

Great read many, many things to consider getting, but me and mine we are keeping as basic as we can. No fancy stuff because it is back to the down right base of living. As long as you can stay warm, dry ,and food is all you need. But you also have to have medical, and defense. Pick up pool bleach in the dry form will last a long time and has a high amount of bleach. Learn what and how to use herbs and such for meds. example willow bark for asprin. Also water softner salt in grandular form, great barter item. Remember it may only be you and yours to rely on. and for us is a BIBLE
Live Free

Great list, Be Informed. At first read, I thought you’d left out the most important prepping item of all. I scanned the list for (S) shine, (C) corn squeezins, (G) good ole mountain dew, (W) white lightnin’, (B) bugtussle boomarang, (R) rumatiz medicine, everything I could think of. And I couldn’t find it anywhere. Then, it dawned on me…most people just call it (A) alcohol! You remembered! Bless your heart!

ARTICLE Forgot to mention that using less technology will be beneficial when a disaster occurs as you will not be so dependent on technology.
I am trying to live without the internet & it is hard. However it is amazing how many small shops sell goods LOCALLY for a reasonable price.

I lived without electricity and running water for a while and I found that oil lamps worked good for light. You have to turn the wick down till it looks like its going to go out then turn it down a little more, then it will get brite and not smoke. I actually saw some people with the smokey wick setting and I turned it to “correct” and they were suprised! Also the cheap lamp oil at wal mart worked better than the more spendy stuff,go figure? Chap stick or burts bees is one of the things I’d add if its not on there, I read it kinda quickly and might have missed something. Sunscreen or old fashioned longsleeve shirts and a boonie style hat? I am lucky in that I have a place to bug out to. I just hope my truck will be running(solar induced EMP?). When I get to my shack its gonna be time to HIDE! Let the die off happen. Not many people that I know are the prepper type nor do they seem open to it so I just don’t talk much about it to them kind anymore. Thankyou for the interesting site and I hope that me being hear don’t put me on THERE radar?:(

If you would to purchase gasoline in an approved container, and store it in a shaded area. How long would it stay good.
And, are any of those additives, for extended gasoline life any good. Any suggestions, to one better than the other.
Most of my equipment operates on gasoline but would like to store it in small containers. Using different sites for storage.

My cousin started a tractor with 30 yr old gasoline back in the 80’s so there’s always a chance.
I use STP additives in my 170,000 miles old minivan who’s had a hard Chgo life outdoors year round and the lines don’t freeze up-so, it works for me to spend a few xtra bucks on it.

I suggest you purchase only pure gas (no corn ethanol) for storing..and use Stabil.
Our generator wouldn’t start the 7th or 8th month (I started it each month as suggested) and we bartered a tiller to get it fixed.
I still believe gook from the non-pure gas was the problem.
We now use only pure gas in all our equipment.
Peace…jayjay

Consider PRI – for gas or diesel – “…stored fuel is one of the weakest links in disaster preparedness. It’s estimated that more than half of the power generator failures that occur in emergencies are caused by fuel degradation…”

This stuff works and I notice Pleasant Hill Grain just started carrying it – had to go to Camping World for mine.

Be sure to turn off the fuel and let power equipment run until the lines are purged to prevent problems if you will not be using them for a while. My Coleman generator is twenty years old and I store its gasoline for up to a year in sealed plastic gas cans (prevents evaporation) with no additives. I also do this with my mower, garden tiller, etc. and have never needed fuel related repairs.

Have starter fluid handy. The first thing ‘bad’ gas will not do is start an engine, but it will run an engine. The butane is the first to leave the mixture. Starter fluid can get it going and from there bad gas is good to go.

Another great(if a tiny bit overlapping) article Mac!
It’s a civilized discussion like this that keeps me coming back.No “flamers”,”Hollywood trolls” and the “suits” can’t claim we’re “revolutionaries” trying to overthrow the current system.I’m just trying to prep to survive the decline of was a good(if slightly flawed) form of government(Republic)into something that seems to resemble a modern Godless Nazi-Fascist Oligarchy.Services for the general good are declining at a ever-faster clip.Medical services are getting worse,and lets not discuss the “free markets”.I expect that not even the gilded gates of iron will protect the 1%,no matter what delusions they harbor.The Bible tells us as much with “they’ll be throwing their gold and silver into the streets”.A 20 year old truck with a hitch and a good cable and a hook can ruin the UBER-RICH’s day when it comes to security.We hope things may improve(with Ron Paul they just might!),but with these discussions and prepping we can at least outlive the “sheeple” and the 1%.Perhaps even start over,if need be.
A few personal thoughts
GFG

Okay, great list. But here is something to think about. Lets say you are able to accumulate everything on the list. Have you practiced using these things? I just got home from an eight day “practice”. Basically I have access to a rural cabin in the nearby mountains. No electricity, running water or “fancy” indoor plumbing. Its a good way to figure out what you absolutely have to have, and what you can do without.

Not only that but all the stockpiling won’t do you a bit of good if you don’t know how to prepare and/or cook it. If you really want to prep, go live off the grid for a few days or weeks if you can. It’ll help arrange your priorities.

If you go to food storage made easy dot NET the girls have all kinds of “dry run” suggestions. They also run a “drill” for a week (ususally in Sept) with a different scenario each day, and you can read about the past year’s drills. Very helpful, thought provoking and a good way to get the family to practice things like no power, etc.

Agree – these haven’t been rated yet and so far I’m the only thumbs down

If these are not kids, trolls or paid agitators then they are weasels and cowards. They definitely have no balls cause they can’t even use their “real” monikers. Are these the type of conniving ass wipes one wants watching one’s back in SHTF?

I think many have turned into fearful liberal pussies. I won’t lay down for some liberal puke who want to impose his will on me or my family. Glad that little girl is being trained up. This guy is a real jerk to say “Exterminate the whites”. Anybody who thumbs down someone standing up to this has been brainwashed and a liberal puke. Please leave America. If a white person said what he said….the media would be all over it. I don’t think we’ll ever have a race war…but there will be those who have it out.

I really laugh at the prior post of the black dude who said they should exterminate the white race. Where’s the media on that one? I just want everyone to know….you have no worries with the race war crap you keep hearing. I’m a white dude and my upstairs neighbor is a nice black gent and my best two friends are black. Don’t be sucked into that gents hate. Just know that there are millions of people who live in peace. They are well armed and trained to respond to any threats to their families. It’s why America will always be free. Peace to all.

Not to be morbid, But this is going to be like the old saying, I dont have to run faster than the bear to stay alive, I just have to run faster than you. The first month of an all out collapse will most likely kill 10-20% of the population…those disabled and or relying on o2 or insulin and the like, very sad but true. in the next 2 months people that were healthy but unprepared will die of the disease and unhealthy conditions that a few million corpses will propagate. After 6 months, a population decline of half of the entire population will make available much useful survival material left for those that are left.

Great article Be Informed!!! you outdid yourself once again!
thumbs up on cigarettes too. I don’t smoke, neither does my missus, so when I stuffed 10 cigarette packets down our Get Out Food Box, she went – “WHAT???” then I told her how I used to have cigarettes on hand when out in the field during my military training. I always used cigarettes for trading stuff.
Tip1: don’t trade away the whole packet! always brake it up and use single cigarettes as coins. just make sure they don’t dry over.
Tip2:if they are dry, put a slice of cucumber in the packet (if you have it, otherwise any other rehydration technique should do it) also, if cigarettes are very dry, don’t take the cigarettes out with their butts up – tobacco will fall out.
Tip3:Don’t trade them right after the SHTF. wait 3-4 weeks. You’ll see a large increase in their value… talk about a deflation on that front 🙂

@ Giurza. You bring up an absolutely excellent point about waiting to trade what you have. People when they become desperate will trade for anything. It reminds me of that Twilight Zone episode in which two crooks were trying to make it through the desert with their gold. One crook lost his water bottle, and the other crook just kept raising the price of getting to drink his water. One bar of gold = one drink. Then one bar of gold = one swallow. At the end they discovered that humans had discovered a way of manufacturing gold and it was worthless. The concept though is there.

I would hate to have to feed into someone’s addiction, but in a survival situation it WORKS. People need that fix and if they have ammunition, food, water filters or water, fuel, whatever that you need, do it. If their needs are to have that smoke or drink, and your needs are to power your generator with the fuel they have, then the barter system works for both parties. Whatever works the best for you.

Giurza, I bet you wife must have thought you were one of those secret chain smokers or something. After you explined it to her, I am sure she said to herself, that’s a good idea. Just look at how valuable cigarettes are in prison, sometimes having them have saved inmates’ lives that have had them.

Wow,damn great list and it lets you know just what the score is when it comes down to it so if everyone takes a look,it can do no harm as that “bad feeling”thruout the land is definitely starting to pick up speed. And once again,I cannot stress enough that YOU MUST STAY UNDER THE RADAR,for”eyes”are out there and you don’t want all your business known. As the dollar continually gets devalued,now is the time to get all you need cause nobody knows how the yuan,yen,rennimibi or any other currency will play out,but one thing is certain:TIMES ARE ACHANGING,and no matter who wins the election,WE,the people cannot look for TPTB to do much of anything in our favor. KY MOM,BARN CAT,VRF,BeINFORMED,SaddleUp,and all the rest of you guys,keep on giving thoughts&ideas cause it does a world of good to all. BE GOOD&GOD BLESS.

” H ” How to do books….You can find them at most used and new bookstores as well as garage sales. There is most likely a how to do book for whatever you want to accomplish on your own. Most often than not the methods applied are timeless in being effective and if for anything a good referral from time to time. A very valuable asset to add to ones library. Also a must for helping in the aiding for survival.

One thing that will be invaluable for clean storage is glass containers. I saw “canning”, “canned goods”, and “containers”. Maybe I overlooked something, but, glass containers are a must for our storage. I don’t mean, just canning jars. We have limited, secure storage areas at our bugout location and to protect our investment of rice/beans, etc., we use every size of glass containers “with metal lids” as we can find. Plastic lids are OK but if kept in a shed or barn, some sort of metal covering is important to keep mice and raccoons from chewing in to. What a shame to invest so much into storing foodstuffs and then find that rats have chewed their way into your containers. Just sayin’.

A friend gave me the link for a site to order glasses. Good prices. I ordered some glasses and they arrived in a week. I am very pleased.

Zenni Optical (www.zennioptical.com)

You must have a current glasses prescription and need to know the Pupillary Distance (often called the P.D.) to order glasses.

The next time you get an eye exam, ask the optometrist to write down the P.D. on your prescription. (They often won’t voluntarily write down your P.D., unless you ask.) Tell them you have a friend in the optical business.

Glasses have become very expensive. These prices are much lower. Check it out! Get new glasses (or a backup pair) for you or a family member.

some ideas to be cost effect, a dish soap bottle clean out WELL can be used to rinse well after going potty (females) sea sponges and choldren diapers for a monthly femal issue. hey it is not kotex but a cost effective option, our grandamas did it so can we. a wagon used for behind the lawn mower is lightweight and can be rigged pretty easily with a handle to lug belongings on foot if needed, kids included! Share some ideas people. We talk alot about stuff but let us share some penny pinching ideas and HOW we do it! Sharing is caring….cost effective protection ideas, underground dwelling ideas, especialll for thos with a high water table? long term lighting? Gardeing with bad soil ideas….let us come togehter and help one another. The bottle near the potty is a modified version of the French tiolette. Not tooo bad of an idea. Spiderwart flower changes color when detects radiation. Get a book from 1994 I think readers digest how to use anything….GREAT read and alot of ideas. even tells ya how to use garbage bags, milk cartons etc for MANY useful and fun things. A wealth of ideas in this book. read and had it looong before prepping. Any organizing ideas with limited space? How to make a hiding room on a budget let’s get the idea ball rolling. I will try and think and share some more. Oh and bed risers are a GREAT space saving thing you can put ALOT of stuff under just a twin bed…

I used to carry a gas stove with a few fuel canisters in my emergency bag until I found my new stove. It’s the 180 Stove from an American company. I ordered the larger 180 STOVE and absolutely love it! They makes their products in the U.S., which is very important in my opinion, and their stuff is top quality. Give them a look if you’re looking for a stove for your emergency bag.

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